***Teaching the Samurai how to set up their weapons, Valdemar is surprised to meet the leader of one group, though they don't get along all that well.
0_o
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When Valdemar and Kōichi accompanied the daimyo outside a little later, lord Maeda had many questions regarding Valdemar's bow. He answered truthfully most of the time. When he was asked if bows such as his were what was in common use where the Dane was from, Valdemar found it a little tempting to answer yes. But he didn't.
"The bows there are very similar to the ones that I have seen here," he said, "though the ones I see around me are all longer than what is and was used by most of the people all over Europe. Mine comes from another land."
He held it up and pointed out the recurved portions. "These are to allow more draw weight while keeping the depth of the bow more shallow."
Then there were questions about the arrows .
He wanted to say that his arrows were the longest ones there and would allow for his size and the length of his arm in a full draw, but he thought that must be obvious.
The true reason that they were black -- which he knew was a question which would come soon -- was simply because they were. He didn't select them based on their color. It just happened that the black ones were the longest ones available in the warehouse. He'd wondered over it himself, but there was no answer that Cor could make.
"They were made for me," he lied with a shrug, "They are black because it was a tradition in my family."
They walked to an open area which looked like a field, though Valdemar couldn't really tell for the snow. But there was some form of an archery target there and Valdemar assumed that this was where the rifle was to be adjusted and tested. He asked where the man was who would be shooting and was told that the lord himself wished to be taught of this, since most of the results from his men's efforts with the guns which had been purchased had been abysmal.
Valdemar nodded and hoped that he looked pleased to hear it.
He asked the daimyo to shoot at the target at least three times and no more than five, but to make no attempt to change anything. "Tell him it is important that he make all of the shots the same way and aiming at the same place as exactly as possible. We do not care where the bullets go, only that they hit that target somewhere and are in as tight a group as is possible. That will tell us how to adjust so that the group and the aiming point come together."
He had to explain it twice and then lord Maeda understood it.
Ten minutes later, Valdemar produced a looking glass and after a look, he offered it to the daimyo.
"You shoot very well," he said, "The group is tightly clustered, a little low and to the right of the center."
He asked for the rifle then and made some small adjustments to the rear sight before handing it back. "Please ask him to try again, only three shots."
Each time, the group of holes slid a little closer to the center of the target until the daimyo could hit the mark rather easily. The results spoke for themselves, judging by the almost delighted expression on the man's face. Valdemar cautioned that the sights, front and rear, must be protected a little from jostling or being struck with anything.
"Or he will need to do this over again. All that is left now is the slightly frustrating task of getting the group a little tighter together each time. It relates to stillness in the body and calm breathing -- just as it does in using a bow."
Valdemar was asked if the rifles which had been bought before could have this done to them and he nodded, though he held up a finger, "But tell him that for the very best results, each man should use the weapon that he was given. What this is - is a matching of the rifle to the man. If I were to shoot that weapon now, I would probably have trouble hitting the mountain there."
Maeda chucked and nodded, understanding it all perfectly. Valdemar knew that he'd be asked to prepare all of the rifles and when it came up, he nodded, adding that if he could have Kōichi's help to translate, he would do it for nothing.
"He wishes to know how long you can stay with us for this."
Valdemar shrugged, "I am in no hurry to be on my way if I am welcome here. I must only go before the warmth of the spring takes hold."
Maeda led them to a different field then, talking as they went. He produced a cigar of the type that Jans often smoked and asked Valdemar if he knew how it was used. The Dane nodded, "I can show the lord this as well, but I must caution him a little. If he finds that he likes the practice, there is a danger that when he runs out of them, he will miss it very much."
The daimyo chuckled a little and said that he would like to learn of it later.
When they reached the second area, Valdemar stared.
Jans was tied very securely to a post, which was one of several which had been driven into the ground in the warmer weather. The man's back was to the piling and his hands were tied at the wrists and then to the post above his head. As soon as Jans saw Valdemar, he began to make accusations and shouted all sorts of unsavory curses.
Maeda had a word with Oda and the village headman walked over through the snow with a thick piece of bamboo. He held his hand in front of his mouth toward Jans to indicate that the man should be silent. Jans shouted even louder until Oda hit him across the chest once. Jans hung his head as he gasped in pain and the headman walked away.
Maeda looked at Valdemar as he spoke to Kōichi in Japanese.
"Maeda-san wishes to see your skill with your strange bow. He says that you are to listen to his wishes and shoot only where you are told to shoot. He says that he likes you very much now for what you have shown to him. It is clear that you know of these things where your companion tells only stories which are easily seen through.
Dane-san," Kōichi said very cautiously, "this is what I told of to you. Lord Maeda would have Jans killed for his cheating and his lies, but he thought that he was a servant to you at first and had no wish to insult you until he learned more. Now he knows that you are a true man. What he wishes to see now is if you are also a true daimyo. You should remember what I said.
Your first arrow should go to the right thigh."
Valdemar had no love for Jans at all after the previous evening, and he found even less in himself today to hear of what the man had tried to do - but to do this, ...
He considered for a moment as he strung his bow. To do as he'd been asked would likely go a long way toward helping things -- if he looked at it coldly. But he also knew the other side of it rather clearly.
To do anything else would likely end with him tied to the same post.
He considered the wind, thankful that there was little at all beyond a gentle and even breeze.
It went on one arrow after another as Jans screamed more and more piteously while his limbs exhibited the long and thick arrows. Valdemar held his face as impassively as he could the entire time. What he was weighing in his mind was the notion to try to hit the major artery in each of the limbs that he was told to aim for, but he knew that Maeda also likely also knew of them, so that was out.
Koichi watched it all in a bit of shock. Whenever he looked at the Dane's face, he saw only the grim expression there and it pleased him that Dane-san had listened to his advice. He didn't know anything of the Dane's private thoughts. He only knew that the large man had to do what had been instructed or ...
Valdemar was glad that the servant who had been sent for the bow had only brought five arrows. He had only one left and prayed silently that he wouldn't be asked to retrieve the ones that he'd used to shoot again. He held up the last arrow with a questioning look.
He looked at the moaning man tied to the piling a little more than what looked to be thirty yards away from him as he listened to the lord speak.
"Maeda-san says that he is highly impressed with your ability. He says that you are to finish it now."
Jans slowly raised his head and looked at Valdemar.
"I can give a moment if you wish to pray, "the Dane said, his face unreadable as he drew his bow back so that the bowstring kissed his lips.
Jans chuckled a little for a moment, "Fuck you. I would only use it to damn you even more than I ha-"
Valdemar released then and Jans' head snapped back against the pole. His body sagged a moment after that and he hung from his bonds.
Oda walked over and remarked that the arrow had gone in where the nose entered the skull and had pinned the man's head to the piling.
When he'd heard the translation of Maeda's praise over the skill of the shot, Valdemar shook his head.
"Tell him that I aimed at the inner corner of his left eye."
He noticed the way that the daimyo was looking at him, so he walked to where Jans' body hung and pulled out all of his arrows but the last. Gathering them up, he walked back to where Maeda stood and unstrung his bow.
"The lord says that he believes that you are a true daimyo now. He understands that fate and luck can play a part and fail at the worst of times. He has seen that most Gaijin would have shown some reluctance to do what was asked, but you did not. It marks you as a true daimyo in his eyes to have done what was not wanted, but had to be done regardless.
He says that you will have what you asked for, and he will pay more for you to stay for a time and teach so that his men can become better with the weapons.
He asks how much for the guns that Jans brought."
Valdemar looked over and shrugged. "They are not mine to sell. Since Jans does not need them any longer, I would suggest that he think of others that he has who could use them. I will prepare them to the best of my ability, but I wish to make it clear that if I say that a weapon is not safe to use, then it should be destroyed. I think that I saw two at least like that, but I will look closely and report to Oda-san."
As they walked back to the village together, Maeda had a thought and spoke of it. Kōichi translated faithfully, "Lord Maeda says that he only just thought of it, but he says that I am the son of an English man and wishes to know if this makes me your enemy in some way."
Valdemar looked over and he laughed, "Tell him that it makes you the son of an Englishman and that's all. I have only felt hate for one of them. Tell him that I only keep a list of my friends. The list is much easier to remember then."
Maeda stared for a moment and then he laughed, nodding.
